Speed reducing mechanism



M y 1940. H. E. TWOMLE'Y 2,201,357

SPEED REDUCING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 17, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 29 1 5 J INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS May 21, 1940. H, E. TWOMLEY SPEED REDUCING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 17', 1956 5 Sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNE y 21, 1940- H. s. TWOMLEY 2,201,357

SPEED REDUCING MECHANISM l d Jan. ,17. 421936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

May 21, 1940. H. E. TWOMLEY SPEED REDUCING MECHANISM Filed Jan. .17, 1936 BMW HPLMHHI y 1940- H; s. TWOMLEY "2,201,357 r SPEED REDUCING llEGIlAHiSI Fiied Jan. 17, 1936 5 sheds-sheet 5 "111 .II.1125Iljflilljlm ATTORNEY.

Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE to Food Machinery Corporation,

San Jose,

Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application January 17, 1936, Serial No. 53,553

4 Claims.

This invention relates to variable speed power transmitting mechanisms of the type employin belt drives with variable diameter V pulleys for effecting speed variations. The invention relates more particularly to high-ratio speed reducing mechanisms employing variable diameter V pulleys or belts for driving two members of a diiferential unit at variable high speeds in opposite directions whereby a third member of the differential unit is rotated at a variable, relatively low speed.

Variable diameter V pulleys are ordinarily formed of two distinct members having angular belt engaging surfaces movable toward each 16 other to increase the effective diameter of the pulley and movable away from each other to decrease the effective diameter of the pulley. If only one of the pulley members is moved or if the two pulley members are moved by unequal so amounts, the median plane will be shifted, thereby throwing the pulley out of alignment with its belt unless the cooperating pulley is also shifted.

One object of this invention is to provide a simple and practicable method of mounting varizs able diameter V pulleys so that they remain in their original position of;v alignment despite variations in pulley diameter even though the variation in diameter is obtained by directly moving only one of the members of the pulley.

Another object is to provide a simple and efficient mechanism for driving two members of a differential unit at opposite directions at inversely variable speeds, from a single drive shaft.

Other more specific objects and features of the invention will appear from the following detailed description which refers to the drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a variable speed power transmitting mechanism in accordance with the invention; I

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same structure taken along the line II--II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken in the plane III-III of Fig. 1;

m Fig. 4 is a detailed end view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detailed vertical view, partly in section, showing a portion of the motor casing and its supporting frame employed in the mechanism of Fig. 1;

Fig, 6 is a detailed end elevation of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2, showing the construction of the idler pulleys and their supports;

Fig. 7 is a detailed view showing a construction alternative to that shown in Fig. 5 for locking the motor case in its supporting frame;

Fig. 8 is a plan view, partly in section, of an alternative construction, in accordance with the invention, to that disclosed in Figs. 1 to 7; and 5 Fig. 9 is a detailed vertical section in the plane IX-IX of Fig. 8 showing the. construction of the motor shaft and variable diameter pulleys thereon.

Referring to Figs, 1 and 2, the variable speed 10 power transmitting mechanism there disclosed comprises an enclosing and supporting case I containing a differential unit 2 and drive pulleys 3 mounted upon the shaft 4 of an electric motor 5.

The differential unit 2 may be of any known construction and consists essentially of two elements 6 and 1, respectively, rotatably mounted upon a shaft 8 which in turn is rotatably supported in journals 9 in the walls of the casing l. 20 The differential unit is so constructed that in response to rotation of the elements 6 and l in opposite directions at high speed, the shaft 8 rotates slowlyin one direction. The direction and speed of rotation of shaft 8 depends upon the 25 internal construction of the differential unit and may be varied within wide limits, as is well known to those skilled in the art. Since the differential unit per se does not constitute a part of the present invention, it need not be described in 0 detail.

The units 6 and I are each provided with two pulley grooves for receiving driving belts 10, H and I2 and I3, respectively. As shown, the member I is of smaller diameter than the member 6 35 at the point of engagement with the driving belts in order to provide a particular speed relation between the shaft 8 and the members 6 and 1. However, these members may be made of any desired relative diameters depending upon the 40 a speed ratio that is desired.

' and are then reverse looped back over the pulley 3, thereby reversing the direction of rotation of the differential member 6 with respect to the pulley 3. 6Q

The idler pulleys I and I6 are rotatably supward and away from the motor shaft 4 by guides 6 ,IS secured to the casing I. Thus the member l8 may have laterally extending tongues 28 which fit between the guides I 9 (Fig. 6). To impart a suitable tension to the belts I0 and I the carriage I8 supporting the idler pulleys I5 and I6 is provided with a tensioning bolt 2| screwed thereinto and projecting through an aperture provided therefor in the end wall of the case Beyond the case the bolt 2| is provided with a stop member 22 and a helical spring 23 is compressed between the stop member 22 and the wall of the casing I. The spring 23 therefore urges the carriage I8 to the left (with reference to Fig. 2) to maintain the belts I6 and I I taut at all times. The tension applied to the belts may be varied by screwing the belt 22 in or out of the carriage J8 and to facilitate such adjust-- ment the outer end of the bolt 2| may be provided with wrench surfaces as indicated at 24.-

The pulley mechanism 3, which will be described in detail later, varies the effective diameters of the surfaces engaging the belts III, II and i2, I3, respectively, in response to variations in the tensions on those belts. In practice, the tensions on the belts are varied by shifting the motor 5 longitudinally to carry the pulleys 3 to- ,ward or away fromv the diflerential unit 2. To facilitate longitudinal adjustment of the motor 5, the latter is adjustably mounted on the side of the casing ll. Thus referring to Fig. 5, the motor 5 is provided with parallel angle flanges 25 and 26 at the top and bottom, respectively, which flanges are engaged by guides 21 and 28, respectively, secured to the rear wall 25 of the casing i. g This wall 29 is provided with an elongated opening 30 for receiving the end of the motor 5 which projects slightly within the casing. In the construction shown in Fig. 5 the guides 21 and 28 do not clamp the flanges 25 and 26 against the casing wall 29 but merely support the flanges 25 for free sliding movement. The longitudinal position of the motor is determined by a screw 3| which is threaded into a suitable nut member 32 attached to the motor 5, the screw 3| extending in the direction of longitudinal adjusting movement of the motor. At

its outer end the screw 3| terminates in a smooth shaft, to the outer end of which a hand wheel 33 is pinned. The smooth portion of the screw. shaft is rotatably supported in a journal 34 secured to the casing I. Flanges 35 on thescrew shaft prevent longitudinal movement of the screw with respect to the journal 34 so that rotating the hand wheel 33 shifts the motor 5 longitudinally. The normal frictional resistance to movement of the screw 3| will normally sufficeto maintain the motor 'in any position to which ithas been moved. However, in some instances it may be desirable to positivelylock the motor against movement after it has been moved to a desired position of adjustment. To this end, a section of the guide 21 is cut away to make room for a clamp block 21a which is adjustably supported on the casing |-by means of a hand screw 31 (Figs. 7, 1 and 2). loosening the screw 3'! the motor may be shifted by turning hand wheel 33. Thereafter by tightening the screw 31- the motor is firmly locked against further movement. I

To indicate the position of adjustment of the motor 5, the latter may be provided with a pointer 48 which extends upover the supporting flange 4| on the top 'tudinal grooves 45 symmetrically disposed on its outer surfaces. A second sleeve 46 of internal diameter slightly greater than the internal diameter of sleeve 44 is positioned concentrically about sleeve 44 and is also provided with longitudinal grooves 41 in its inner surface, which grooves are juxtaposed to the grooves 45. Each pair of juxtaposed grooves 45 and 41 contains a series of balls 48 which maintain the sleeves 44 and 46 in concentric relation with each other and prevent relative rotation therebetween while permitting free longitudinal movement of the sleeve 46 upon the sleeve 44 within certain limits. Escape of the balls 48 from their containing grooves is prevented by inwardly projecting flanges 48 and 50, respectively, on the sleeve 46.

The pulleys proper are defined by a plurality of separate pulley members 5|, 52, 53, 54 and 55, which define the belt contacting surfaces. The

'end members 5| and 55 arerigidly attached to the sleeve 46 whereas the intermediate members 52, 58 and 54 are slidable longitudinally on the sleeve 46 but are restrained from rotation thereabout. I

To retain the member 5| in position on the end of sleeve 46, screw holes maybe provided at the juncture between the pulley member and the sleeve for receiving screws 58. The member 55 is retained in position on the sleeve 46 and the members 52, 53 and 54 are restrained from rotation with respect to members 5| and 55 and the sleeve 46 by bolts 68 which extend clear through the members from one end to the other and clamp the end members 5| and 55, respectively, snugly against the ends of sleeves 62 which surround the bolts 60 and extend through the pulley members 52, 53 and 54 but abut against the end members SI and 55. Member 55 may be restrained from rotation about the sleeve by keys 6|. The members 52, 53 and 54 are slidably fitted upon the sleeve 46 and also upon the sleeve 62 on the bolts 60.

The device functions as follows: Assuming that the motor 5 is energized to rotate its shaft 4, the latter rotates the sleeve 44 and the sleeve 46 through the balls 48 and sleeve 56 in turn rotates the various pulley members 5| to 55, inclusive. This drives the belts III to 83, inclusive,

I to rotate the differential members 6 and l in opposite directions. The relative speeds of the differential members 6 and I will be determined "by the relative diameters of the pulleys engaging the belts III, II and I2, l3, respectively. The diameters of these pulleys in turn will be determined by the relative tensions of the belts I0, II and I2, I3, respectively, on the pulley 3 and this in turn, of course, will depend upon the position of longitudinal adjustment of the motor 5. If the adjustment is such as to tighten belts I8 and .lI and loosen belts I2 and I3, then belts l8 and M will ride down between their cooperating pulley members5l, 52 and 53, respectively, forcing the member 52 outwardly along the sleeve a short distance and forcing the member 53 outwardly along the sleeve 46 a somewhat greater distance. This crowds members 53, 54 and 55 more closely together, forcing the belts l2 and I3 outwardly and clearly shown in Fig. 3. Assuming that all of the grooves on the pulley 3 were aligned with the cooperating pulleys on the differential member in any one position of adjustment of the elements 52, 53 and 54, then any movement of members 52, 53 and 54 would displace the median planes of the four pulley grooves from their original positions, tending to throw the belts out of alignment with their grooves on the pulley 3. However, in response to any tendency toward misalignment, the belts apply a force to the belt engaging surfaces of the pulleys, tending to shift the pulleys back into alignment. .This force causes the sleeve 46 to slide longitudinally along the sleeve 44, the balls 48 rolling to permit such movement without material friction loss. The entire pulley as a unit on the sleeve 46 therefore shifts longitudinally back and forth to compensate for misalignment resulting from movement of the members 52, 53 and 54 with respect to the stationary end members and 55.

Although the construction described employs a dual belt drive to each of the differential units 6 and I, respectively, it is obvious that a single belt may be employed for driving each differential unit or that the number may be increased above two. Variation of the number of belts employed merely means the elimination of some of the intermediate members 52, 53 or 54 on the pulley or the addition of intermediate members.

Referring now to Figs. 8 and 9, in the embodiment of the invention therein depicted the pulley elements for driving the two differential units are positioned on opposite ends of the motor. Thus the motor I8, which may be mounted for longitudinal adjustment movement in a manner similar to that described with reference to Fig. 1, is provided with a hollow shaft II (Fig. 9) upon which the motor rotor I2 is mounted, the hollow shaft being journaled in bearings I3 in the motor casing in accordance with accepted practice. The hollow shaft II surrounds a second hollow shaft or sleeve I4 which extends beyond the motor housing on both ends and has anchored to its opposite ends pulley members I5 and I6, respectively. The hollow shafts II and the sleeves 14 are provided with juxtaposed longitudinal grooves containing balls 11 exactly as described with reference to Fig. 3 so that although the sleeve I4 is forced to rotate with the hollow motor shaft II, it is free to slide longitudinally back and forth within the motor shaft. The motor shaft II may, of course, be restrained from longitudinal movement with respect to the motor housing as by thrust members I8 positioned be tween the ends of the rotors "and the journals I3. Positioned within the sleeve I4 and extending therebeyond at both ends is a shaft I9, upon the outer ends of which are solidly anchored pulley members 88 and 8|, respectively. The shaft 19 is preferabli'firovided with splines 82 which engage grooves in the sleeve I4 and in the pulley members 88 and 8| to prevent relative rotation therebetween. Intermediate pulley members 83 and 84 are positioned between the pulley members I5 and 88 and I6 and 8|, respectively, and slidably mounted upon the shaft I9. However, these pulleys 83 and 84 also have grooves engaging splines 82 and thereby preventing relative rotation between the pulley elements and the shaft.

The three elements 8|, 84 and I6 define therebetween two'pulley grooves for engaging pulleys 98 and 9| extending to a rigid double groove V pulley 92 on the difierential unit 93. The pulley members I5, 83 and 88 likewise define therebetweentwopulley groove receiving belts 94 and '95, respectively, which extend into driving engagement with another double groove pulley 96 on the differential unit 93. The belts 94 and 95 couple thedrive' pulley directly to the differential pulley 96. The belts 98 and 9|, however, are reverse looped over idlers 91 and then reverse looped back over the pulley members 84, 8| and I6 on the motor drive assembly. The detailed construction of the idler pulleys 91 is not disclosed since it may be constructed in the same general manner as in the embodiment disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2.

The differential unit 93 consists of a central driven shaft 98 rotatably supported in a pair of stationary journals 99. The pulley units 92 and 96 are in turn rotatably supported upon the shaft 98. The pulley member 96 has rigidly attached thereto a spur gear I88 and the pulley 92 has rigidly attached thereto a spur gear I8I. Keyed to the shaft 98 between the spur gears I88 and I8I is an arm I82 bearing a stub shaft I83 for supporting an idler gear I84 and rotatably supporting a shaft I86, to the opposite ends of which are keyed pinions I8! and I88, respectively. Pinion I8I meshes directly with the spur gear I8I and pinion I88 is reverse coupled to the spur gear I88 by the idler gear I84. The spur gear assembly may be enclosed in a protecting case II 8;

The device described with reference to Figs. 8 and 9 functions as follows: With the motor I8 in operation, the belts 98, 9| and 94, 95 are driven in opposite directions at speeds depending upon the effective diameters of the pulley members on a the motor shaft engaged by those belts. .This

pinions are positively coupled. together by the shaft I86 they cannot rotate at different speeds .and the result is that the arm I82 and the shaft 98 rotate to revolve the pinions I8! and I88 about the gears 88 and I8| at a speed which is a function of the relative ratios of the gears I88 and IN and of the relative speeds of those gears. To change the speed of the driven shaft 98, which may be coupled by any suitable device not shown to a mechanism to be driven, the motor I8 is shifted toward or away from the differential unit 93, thereby tending to tighten the belts 94, 95 and loosen the belts 98, 9| or vice versa.

Now referring to Fig. 9, it will be observed that the pulley members I6 and I5 are rigidly secured together by the sleeve I4 and that the pulley members 88 and 8| are rigidly secured together through the central shaft I9. With the apparatus in the position shown in Fig. 9, belts 98 and 9| are riding near the centers of the pulley memv belts 94 and 95 will be driven at a greater linear speed'thanbelts 98 and 9|. It will now be assumed that it is desired to reduce the speed of the differential member 96 and increase the speed of differential member 92. To effect this result,

the motor 18' will be shifted away from the differential unit '93, thereby tightening belts e4, .95 and loosening belts 90, 9|. The increased tension on belts 94, 95 spreads the pulley members 15, 83

and 80. In actual practice a central member 93 may remain substantially stationary, the member 80 moving outwardly, thereby carrying the shaft 19 and the member 8| to the right and'the member 15 moving inwardly, thereby carrying the sleeve 8| andthe member 16 to the left. The result will be that member 84 will likewise remain substantially stationary whereas members BI and II will both move toward belt 84 to force the belts 94 and 95 to move nearer the pulley members.

In both the constructions shown in Figs. 3 and 9, it will be observed that the connection between the main motor drive shaft and the pulley unit is effected by ball bearings which have very little friction. Therefore, the pulley assembly in" each case is very free to move in response to misalignment of thebelts. This is desirable because the lateral force exerted by the belts may be relatively slight. On the other hand, the connections between the various pulley members 5|, 52, 53 and 54 and 55 in Fig. 3 and between the members BI, 84, l6, l5 and 80 in Fig. 9 need not have particularly low friction characteristics because these members are moved relative to each other by the direct spreading force of the V belts which may be made to have very substantial values.

Although the invention has been describedwith reference to certain specific embodiments for purposes of illustration, it will be obvious that many variations can be made in the particular structures disclosed without departing from the invention and the latter is therefore to-be limited only as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: l. A mechanism of the type described, com prising in combination a motor having a supporting housing and a hollow rotor member rotatably supported in said housing, a sleeve extending through saidrotor member and projecting therebeyond on both ends, a first pair of pulley members each defining one half of a V pulley rigidly secured to said sleeve at spaced apart points thereon on opposite sides of said motor, a

shaft positioned within said sleeve and extending therebeyond at both ends, meanscoupling said,

shaft to said sleeve for rotation therewith and longitudinal movement with respect thereto, means including a pair of pulley members attached to said shaft for cooperating with the pulley members on, saidsleeve to define therewith inversely variable Vpulleys on, the opposite sides of said motor, a pair of driven pulleys to be sate forv pulley adjusting movement of said shaft and maintain said variable pulleys in alignment with their respective belts.

2. A mechanism of the type described, comprising in combination a motor having a supporting housing and a hollow rotor member rotatably supported in said housing, a sleeve extending through said rotor member and projecting th beyond at both ends, a first pair ofpulley m bers each defining one half of a V pulley rigidly secured to said sleeve on opposite sides of said motor, a shaft positioned within said sleeve and extending therebyond at both ends, means coupling said shaft to said sleeve for rotation therewith and longitudinal movement with respect thereto, a pair of pulley members attached to said shaft and positioned outwardly from the first pair of pulley members and a plurality of pulley members slidable on said shaft between each pair of juxtaposedpulley members on said shaft and on said sleeve, respectively, the set of pulley .members on each side of said motor defining a plurality of variable diameter pulleys, two sets of driven pulleys to be driven at relatively variable speeds, two sets of belts each coupling one set of driven pulleys to the variable, pulleys on one end of said motor, means for tightening one set of belts and loosening the other set of belts to shift said shaft and the pulley members slidably mounted thereon longitudinally with respect to said sleeve and thereby inversely vary the diameters of the variable V pulleys on opposite sides of said motor, and means connecting said sleeve to said rotor member for rotation therewith and free longitudinal movement therewithin whereby said sleeve shaft and the pulley members thereon are free to move longitudinally as a unit to coinpensate for pulley-adjusting movement of said shaft and maintain said variable pulleys at least I in approximate alignment with their respective belts.

3. A mechanism of the type described comprising a first rotatable member fixed against axial movement, a second rotatable membercoaxial with said first member, a third rotatable member coaxial with said first and second membars, said second and third members defining a first V pulley, the effective diameter of which varies in response to axial movementbetween said second and third members, a second V pulley and means mounting it opposite said first V pulley for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said first pulley, a belt'coupling said first and second V pulleys, said belt tending to spread the second and third members to thereby decrease the efiective diameter of said first pulley, means urging said second and third members toward each other to thereby tend to increase the effective diameter of said first V pulley, sliding bearing means mounting said third member on said second member for rotation therewith and axial movement with respect thereto in response to a change in tension of said belt relative to the force exerted by said urging means, and rolling bearing means mounting said second member on said first member for rotation I therewith and axial movement with respect thereto, whereby there is less frictional resistance to axial movement between said first and second members'than between said second and third members being fixed relative to said sleeve and the other being slidably mounted on the sleeve,

-means for shifting said slidable member on the sleeve for varying the effective diameter of the variable diameter pulley, including a belt coupling said first mentioned pulley to said variable diameter pulley, and rol-lable bearing. means mounting said sleeve on said shaft for rotation therewith. and for longitudinal movement therealong whereby said sleeve and separable pulley members are free to move longitudinally to compensate for adjusting movement along said sleeve of said other pulley member and maintain align.-

ment between said belt and variable pulley, said shaft and sleeve having cooperating longitudinal grooves in their juxtaposed surfaces and said rollable bearing means mounting the sleeve on the shaft comprising balls fitting in the juxtaposed grooves in the shaft and sleeve.

HERBERT E. TWOMLEY. 

